Living large in Costa Rica

Luxury lodging in Costa Rica – Enjoy the view over the Papagayo Peninsula from your private pool at the Four Seasons.

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Luxury lodging in Costa Rica – A romantic dinner on the beach is just one of the perks of staying at the Four Seasons on Costa Rica's Papagayo Peninsula.

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Luxury lodging in Costa Rica – At the oceanfront Florblanca Resort, located on the tip of the Nicoya Peninsula near Playa Santa Teresa, horseback riding, surfing and yoga are just some of the activities within easy reach.

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Luxury lodging in Costa Rica – Or just lounge by Florblanca's infinity pool.

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Costa Rica's luxury lodging – The all-inclusive Westin Playa Conchal Resort & Spa opened in May 2011 -- a sprawling property that includes a golf course, forests and the beautiful beaches of Costa Rica's North Pacific Riviera.

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Luxury lodging in Costa Rica – Arenal Volcano may be slipping into dormancy, but it remains a dramatic sight from the thermal pools at The Springs.

Luxury lodging in Costa Rica – Within walking distance of Manuel Antonio National Park, the gorgeously landscaped Arenas Del Mar resort is an attraction in its own right.

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Story highlights

Costa Rica's luxury offerings are among the best in Latin America

The options include beach and forest stays

Famed beach town Tamarindo has sharpened up for the luxury seeker

Not so long ago, Costa Rica was a backpacker's game.

Other than a few business-class hotels in the capital of San José and a handful of isolated luxury properties scattered about the scenic hinterlands, travelers could expect little in the way of genuine comfort while exploring one of the most beautiful and eco-conscious countries on the planet.

Over the past decade, however, Costa Rica's fastest-growing crop has been a collection of opulent hotels and resort communities, complemented by marinas, golf courses, gourmet restaurants, hot springs and other world-class facilities.

The tag attached to most deluxe properties is usually something like "ecolodge" or "ecoresort," which may conjure visions of dreadlocks, granola and recycled hemp-fiber sheets.

Don't be fooled.

Yes, most of the country's destinations are green; Costa Rica's Sustainable Tourism Program rewards environmentally friendly properties with one to five "leaves" and copious free publicity.

But Costa Rica's new upscale properties are as elegant and comfortable as any in Latin America.

Here are the best regions and stays for putting a little service and Chardonnay into your sand and scenery.

Gulf of Papagayo

Costa Rica's posh spot is Papagayo, a sparkling strand of beaches in the northwestern Guanacaste Province.

Once better known for sabaneros (cowboys) and fine horses, Papagayo Peninsula has been developed into Central America's premier luxury destination.

It even has its own international airport (LIR) just minutes away in the regional capital of Liberia.

Lavish rental properties, excellent restaurants and bellowing howler monkeys might convince you to stay put for your entire vacation. But it's worth leaving the luxury (and wildlife) to see some of the region's outstanding national parks and festive beach communities.

Accommodations are led by the exquisite Four Seasons Papagayo, the top pick in a scenic region that boasts Costa Rica's best resorts, golf courses, spas and white-sand beaches.

Rolling jungle hills surround tiny Manuel Antonio National Park, considered Costa Rica's most beautiful, as well as its original upscale destination.

It's also one of the most wildlife-rich regions in the world, which means you're certain to spot several species of monkeys, sloths and tropical birds, among other animals.

Excellent restaurants, sparkling nightlife, art galleries and an array of adventure tour operators make it a honeymooner's choice.

When traveling in high season (December through February), make reservations well in advance, and be prepared for crowds.

Among numerous upscale hotel choices, the prestigious Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort has received the Costa Rica Tourist Ministry's Five Sustainability Leaf Award along with its top Five Star Award for luxury and comfort. Within walking distance of the national park, the gorgeously landscaped property is an attraction in its own right.

Arenal

Until 2011, Arenal Volcano was Costa Rica's most active volcano.

Alas, for area entrepreneurs, the lava flows that graced so many tourism brochures have mellowed to mere puffs of smoke.

On the upside, you can now get excellent deals on the region's dozen or so five-star properties, the best of which are known for their spectacular hot springs.

The gold standard is Tabacón Grand Spa and Thermal Resort, with world-class rooms and restaurants, as well as a river of steaming natural water, which feeds extravagant gardens and spas.

A close runner-up is the Springs. It features a dozen cascading pools and whimsically decorated rooms.

No matter where you stay, virtually all area hotels will arrange day trips to the many hot springs pouring from Arenal's slopes, a must while you're in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica's most famous beach town is growing up, its scruffy surf shacks and beach bars now complemented with excellent restaurants and attractive accommodations.

Despite complaints that paving the roads and erecting high rises have compromised Tamarindo's authentic local flavor, the surfing is still awesome, and the neighboring beaches of Las Baulas National Marine Park, known for nesting sea turtles, have remained pristine.

But there are other interesting options, including the romantic Los Altos de Eros, which gets high marks for its attentive staff, and the golf resort at nearby Hacienda Pinilla resort, which sits astride three miles of superb shoreline.

The cloud forests

Tropical weather can be cool and comfortable in the chilly cloud forests surrounding El Silencio Lodge and Spa.

An escape from lowland heat and humidity, Costa Rica's mountains and volcanoes are topped with misty cloud forests, where temperatures hover between 12 and 20 C (53 to 68 F) year-round and visitors will find a number of outstanding mountain lodges.

Some travelers may want to skip Monteverde, Costa Rica's most famous cloud forest (aka "crowd forest").

Anchored by the graceful Los Sueños Marriott, surrounded by scores of extravagant rental properties, an adorable marina area and one of the country's best golf courses, Los Sueños offers almost everything you'd want from a tropical vacation, albeit without the hassle of actually seeing Costa Rica.